New York (MedscapeWire)  — Fungus growing on bathroom walls may look innocent, but they could potentially cause health problems, according to Bruce Jarvis, chemistry professor at the University of Maryland, who presented data on the toxicology of molds during the 220th national meeting of the American Chemical Society, August 20-24, in Maryland.

According to Jarvis, certain kinds of fungi give off toxic (mycotoxins) spores that can be inhaled and cause flu-like symptoms. Mycotoxins are readily absorbed by the intestinal lining, airways, and skin. His research focuses on the Stachybotrys chartarum fungus, an uncommon mold considered to be one of the more serious threats to people living and working in water-damaged buildings. Is presentation detailed the variety of potent toxins and immunosuppressant agents produced by S chartarum, as well as other classes of toxigenic fungi.

S. chartarum has been linked with cases of infant pulmonary hemosiderosis (bleeding in the lungs), including a series of cases since 1994, where 12 infants have died. All of whom were living in substandard, water damaged inner city housing in Cleveland, Ohio. Cellulose materials such as paper, sheetrock, cardboard, ceiling tiles, and wood products are suitable sources for fungal growth if they become moist or water damaged due to water leaks, excessive humidity, or flooding.

"There's no question that living in a damp environment in the presence of molds may cause general health problems. Although Stachybotrys is not a common fungus found in damp buildings, any visible signs of mold growth should warrant attention because it indicates a water intrusion problem," said Jarvis. He also adds that even when the molds are removed, unless the source of water is taken care of, the molds will reappear.

According to Jarvis, Stachybotrys is not as common in flooded homes as other fungi such as Aspergillus and Cladosporium. However, all of these fungi take weeks or months to grow, which means that the presence of indoor molds reflect long-standing water problems. Fungal growth problems can also occur in new buildings and homes that were poorly constructed.

He says there are several treatment options for indoor fungal growth, but measuring how much mold a person is breathing in remains a challenge. Unlike using certain proteins or markers to measure the exposure to allergens, Jarvis says it's more difficult to measure an individual's exposure to the toxicgenic molds.

He adds there tends to be an overreaction to the presence of molds. While there has been cases that require extensive professional treatment in removing parts of the wall and floorboards, small amounts of fungal growth can be treated by simply wiping the area with diluted bleach.

"We're inhaling all kinds of particulate matter everyday, but we have powerful mechanisms in our lungs to protect us," said Jarvis.

Although Stachybotrys is not a widespread indoor environmental problem in the United States, Jarvis is working with scientists in Denmark where there is a national effort to investigate the risks Stachybotrys and other fungi pose to infant health.
 
 

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